Hammurabi
PeopleWhat is the meaning of Hammurabi in the Bible?
Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty who ruled Mesopotamia from approximately 1792 to 1750 BC. He is historically identified with Amraphel, the king of Shinar mentioned in Genesis 14:1, and is renowned for unifying much of Mesopotamia under Babylonian rule and promulgating the Code of Hammurabi, a comprehensive set of laws inscribed on a diorite stele.
SIGNIFICANCE
Identifying Hammurabi with the biblical Amraphel provides historical context for the coalition of kings described in Genesis 14, illustrating the complex political landscape of the ancient Near East during the time of Abraham.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.